New Patriotic Party (NPP) Women’s Organiser hopeful Hawa Koomson has pledged to make pepper spray available to women and provide personal safety training if elected.
Addressing a women’s group, the former Member of Parliament for Awutu Senya East questioned why women who carry pepper spray in Ghana are sometimes perceived as preparing for confrontation.
She argued that the item could serve as a practical means of protection against attacks.
“In abroad, pepper spray is given out for free, and people carry it everywhere in their bags. So why is it that in Ghana, when a woman is given pepper spray, people say she is going to fight?” she asked.
Madam Koomson also recounted an incident at Ablekuma North, claiming that pepper spray helped protect her from harm.
“But for pepper spray, I would have been dead by now, given the incident at Ablekuma North. The pepper spray was what saved me,” she said.
She therefore pledged that, if elected NPP Women’s Organiser, she would work to ensure women have access to pepper spray.
“So I’ll make sure every woman has pepper spray when I win,” she said.
Madam Koomson further cited the reported case of a woman who travelled in an Uber and, according to her, could have been harmed without pepper spray.
She said her proposed initiative would go beyond distributing the item, adding that women would also be trained to be confident and courageous while respecting others.
“I will give it to you and teach you bravery,” she said.
She stressed that courage should not be confused with disrespect, saying women could stand up for themselves without being rude.
Source :Adomonline
